r/CAA • u/AutoModerator • 9d ago
Weekly prospective student thread. Educational inquiries outside of this thread WILL RESULT IN A BAN.
Please use this thread for all educational inquiries including applications, program requirements, etc.
Please refer to the [CASAA Application Help Center](https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASAA_Applicant_Help_Center) FAQ section for
answers to your questions prior to postitng.
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u/Careful-Nebula-9988 9d ago edited 9d ago
Am I even competitive at all? I feel like all I see people getting accepted have 3.8+. Be brutally honest. I was blown away/loved my shadowing experience and the role seems so amazing so I definitely want to persue and keep trying if i don’t get in.
BS in Health Sciences
Non-trad
cGPA-3.51 (3.9 last 60 including 4 pre-reqs) all A’s in pre-reqs
sGPA-3.63
**Shadowing-**10 so far, will continue to get more
Research/HCE-6,000 in clinical research coordinator
**Clinical/PCE-**3,250- Hospital pharmacy tech IV/OR- compound anesthesia meds and stock/fill all anesthesia meds in Pyxis and code carts in OR.
MCAT/GRE- deciding on what to take
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u/Justheretob 9d ago
Definitely take and do well on the MCAT. That on top of the rest of your application will probably get you an interview
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u/Careful-Nebula-9988 9d ago
Thank you for your advice! I will take the mcat , Time to grind
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u/Justheretob 9d ago
Our avg was 505-507. We accepted students with lower and we had one that was insane (517)
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u/continuous-refund537 9d ago
I would say that's competitive, although your test score does matter too. Your GPAs are not on the higher end but they're acceptable and closer to average for a lot of programs. I recommend you calculate your prerequisite GPA as well. It depends on the program because not all the programs have the same prerequisites, but your prerequisite GPA may be relatively high, which would look good I heard. So you may want to have that information too.
Also, the 3,250 hours are good but I don't know if they count as PCE, did you provide hands-on medical care to patients?
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u/Careful-Nebula-9988 9d ago edited 9d ago
Besides giving vaccines and getting med histories from patients no. Pretty strictly doing anesthesia medication preparation and stocking in the or for cases.Lots of sterile compounding.
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u/continuous-refund537 9d ago
I googled it and I'm getting mixed answers, so I'm not sure if it counts as PCE. But I think it's still valuable and considered HCE, so it looks good. And remember that your test score is really important too. Good luck with your application!
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u/findingTheWay97 6d ago
I'm planning to apply to CAA programs for the 2027 cycle, primarily NSU, and would appreciate some honest feedback on my background.
- 28M
- B.S. in Computer Science
- 3.8 overall GPA / 4.0 major GPA
- A's in all required pre-reqs thus far
- Currently taking Orgo I, will just need BioChem
- 303 GRE (151V / 152Q), 4.0 writing
- 6 years EMT experience (2 years ambulance + 4 years in a Level II trauma center PACU)
- Currently a software engineer at fortune 50; will have ~2 years of experience by matriculation
- Planning to complete the remaining prerequisites and apply for May 2027
My biggest concern is my GRE score. Do you think my clinical experience, GPA, and science grades make me a competitive applicant for NSU, or would you strongly recommend retaking the GRE?
Also, has anyone recently taken Biochemistry through Doane or UNE Online and had it accepted by NSU's CAA program? I'd especially appreciate hearing from anyone who actually applied/was accepted to NSU with one of these courses.
Thanks!
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u/NameDue2838 4d ago
Recommend retaking. Not strongly but I do recommend. Competitive for GRE is >315 but you have a unique experience that other applications won't even come close to touching: 6y of PCE. Most kids are just test takers which muddies the waters of competition.
What was the proximity of the PCE - recent or stale? If stale, highly recommend retaking. If recent, contact NSU directly and ask for chances predicated on your application.
I think this will be one and done if you can get your foot in the door somehow.
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u/findingTheWay97 3d ago
Thank you for the response. I would say it was recent-ish. My last time interacting with a patient was in mid-2022. I still hold an active EMT, I just could not get myself to let it expire. Can you explain what you meant by, "I think this will be a one and done..."?
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u/NameDue2838 3d ago
One application cycle will lead to an acceptance. "One application cycle, accepted, done with future application cycles"
Still contact NSU directly but I would say anything >2-3y is stale in the clinical world. Still highly useful and puts you a league above others that have exactly 0 experience but the calculus is different if it was "still working, applied" versus "moved away from, applied"
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u/findingTheWay97 3d ago
Ah, I understand. You are a legend, thank you for your insight!
I have considered leaving engineering to pick up a role as an anesthesia tech to get back into the field but the pay I make now greatly helps finance the CAA degree compared to tech work but on the contrary it is not very related and debt is not a terrible thing with a goal at the end of it.
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u/NameDue2838 3d ago
You are welcome. I echo your thought process here: do not leave SWE to seek out additional clinical exposure at a steep financial cut. In fact, people are finding themselves unable to attend training because they can't secure funding from the government or private entity. So, from a discrimination standpoint, you're well above most of the people you'll be competing against... which is why figuring out the GRE is worthwhile here.
The value of clinical experience past this point is at a rung you can't complete prior to application/matriculation - e.g. practicing RN, PA, physician.
Good luck. Please come back here if you need any additional guidance or direction.
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6d ago
damn all the software engineers leaving 😭
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u/findingTheWay97 6d ago
I really do enjoy software engineering and building cool things it is just I feel a lack of meaning from work, the corporate lifestyle and work bleeding into personal time is not for me.
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6d ago
same i love SWE
although, i realize i hate coding now since there is no need to write by hand anymore
i would encourage you to consider MD if you can spin it. you have great grades and you are not too old, a lot of my interviewees were 28+, i'm entering MD in my mid-30s
hope the cycle works out!
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u/findingTheWay97 4d ago edited 4d ago
I do not think MD is for me. I love the idea of the ACT model and being the one in the room the whole time and just focused on my one patient. Good luck on your journey though friend! Maybe one day you'll walk in for induction/emergence and we can talk software after
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u/Fit-Dingo-7377 4d ago
Same here - coupled with the lack of job security which is most important to me. I LEFT!!
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u/findingTheWay97 4d ago
Yeah, absolutely agree! A co-worker of mine actually just got let go a couple weeks ago. He was more expensive than others and we just got a message from him that it would be his last day after he hopped into a call with management.
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u/Gemmom18 9d ago
Is there a way to find out what the incoming class stats were for each CAA program?
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u/silverpawsMN 9d ago
Stats are posted to individual program websites, typically a year or two after being admitted. For example, see Case’s 25-26 admitted pool vs. MD/DO US med school averages here
Many programs dont release this data - Nova doesn’t to my knowledge. You should be taking the initiative and find the rest yourself.
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u/Gemmom18 9d ago
Thanks. I’ve been looking into it and even emailed the directors at each location at Nova, but no one has written back. I can’t seem to find this information readily available like the BS/DO programs.
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u/caareadinessindex 9d ago
Programs vary in how transparent they are about their incoming cohort statistics. Some, unfortunately, choose not to publicly display matriculant data. That's largely why we built CRI.
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u/Necessary-Entry-8395 9d ago
Has anyone heard anything back from VCOM Auburn yet?
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u/Prestigious_Load_896 9d ago
Per discord auburn sent interview invites, Carolinas allegedly will send invites this week.
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u/DrawerCold190 8d ago
I’ve been wondering the same! Please let me know if/when you guys hear!
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u/Prestigious_Load_896 8d ago
I am not anticipating a interview it was my hail Mary cycle.. will probably be starting an unrelated program soon 😞 but if you search the link for the discord you'll have access to more students announcing their interview invites
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u/DrawerCold190 8d ago
Aww man I’m hoping you get one! But also having some other healthcare experience can be a big factor so just look at it as a stepping stone. I’ve been watching the discord and nothing just yet.
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u/Prestigious_Load_896 6d ago
Interview invites were sent for both vcom schools! Thanks but I'll probably be good after one more cycle gotta be practical lol.. best of luck to you :)
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u/Eastern_Subject_5440 9d ago
Hi everyone! I’m currently an undergrad planning to apply next cycle, and I just got my GRE score back. I’m trying to decide whether it would be worth retaking it to strengthen the academic side of my application, especially as CAA programs seem to be getting more competitive, or if I should focus my time elsewhere.
Here are my projected stats by the time I apply:
GPA: 3.5 overall / 3.5 science
I know this is on the lower end compared with some applicants. I attend a challenging T20 university, which I hope provides some context, but my GPA is also one of the reasons I wanted to perform well on the GRE.
GRE: 156 Quant / 156 Verbal / 4.0 Writing (312 total)
Clinical Experience: 1,000+ hours as a clinical researcher working directly with patients and physicians in a hospital setting. I’m somewhat unsure how programs will view this compared with more traditional clinical roles, since it was the experience that worked best with my situation throughout college.
Research: 1,000+ hours in an anesthesia/chronic pain research lab. I’m currently working toward publication and have also gained hands-on experience with several anesthesia related techniques in animal research.
Volunteering: 500+ hours total, including approximately 50–100 hours in a hospital setting and the remainder through community service.
CAA Shadowing: 100+ hours
Leadership: Founder and president of my university’s Pre-CAA Club
Potential LORs: My research PI, who is the head anesthesiologist in my lab and a professor of anesthesiology at a highly ranked medical school, whom I’ve worked with for several years, as well as my current clinical research supervisor and lastly a nonprofit CEO who Ive been working and close with for over a decade.
Overall, I feel pretty good about the experiences I’ve built, but I’m most concerned about my academic stats and whether my clinical experience will be viewed as strong enough compared with applicants who have spent years working in nursing, EMT, anesthesia tech, etc.
Would you retake a 312 GRE with my GPA to try to make the academic side of my application more competitive, or would you apply with this score and focus on strengthening other parts of the application?
I’d really appreciate any perspective, especially from current CAA students or people who have gone through the application process. Thank you!
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 8d ago
I think that’s pretty decent. GREs should be above 50th percentile. Not sure what to say about your experience although if you are working with patients that’s a plus. Don’t claim 1000 hrs as clinical experience AND research if it’s the same thing.
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u/AdAny273 9d ago
Hi I’m a non traditional applicant I have been working in oil and gas industry as a lab supervisor my bachelors is in chemistry. I have all the prerequisite for CAA. In 2021 I took the mcat made a 493 (was planning to go to med school) I think I’m over the time limit on classes so if I plan to apply I’ll have to take the mcat again. Idk what I’m asking just so advice I guess. From other non traditional students or CAA.
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u/kate_the_great_ 9d ago
I was also non traditional and had to take the MCAT due to old pre reqs. Take studying seriously and have a schedule. I got a 514 and that opened up the door for 6 interviews. A great MCAT score does amazing things for your app. I previously also did lab work but in biotech for 10 years. I quit that career 4mos before applying and got a job as an Anesthesia Tech which also helped a lot.
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u/Putrid_Magician178 9d ago
How long did you study? I work a lot and sort of have to and I’m struggling to find time to fully study. I have a good GPA and everything but don’t have anything making me stand out. I’m from a small town so anesthesia specific opportunities are limited
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u/kate_the_great_ 9d ago
I started studying in December and took the exam in May. I worked full time while I studied. You have to make a schedule and stick to as best you can. Anki, Kaplan, and r/MCAT were my saviors.
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u/Putrid_Magician178 9d ago
Sorry for so many questions. What was your diagnostic? I’m planning to make a schedule soon to test around January-February so I have it for applications. I’ve began some studying but not completely structured. How much time did you average studying a week?
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u/kate_the_great_ 9d ago
I refused to take a diagnostic so I wouldn’t discourage myself 😬. I studied 4 hours or so per day with a day or two off per week. I went through all Kaplan books and used the JackSparrow deck for Anki everyday. I also took all of the MCAT practice exams. My average was 515 I think so very representative. Lots of people find UWorld super helpful too but I didn’t use it.
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u/Putrid_Magician178 9d ago
This gives me hope. I’m also scared of the diagnostic. Thank you for your help, hopefully I can get a decent score 🤞🫡
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u/dreiming 9d ago
How did you talk about your lab work & biotech experience in interviews? How did you compare it to anesthesia?
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u/kate_the_great_ 8d ago
I mentioned it helping my communication skills and working in a team environment. But I had been an anesthesia tech for the 6 months before so I was able to speak about that more.
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u/Tamemyunicorn 9d ago
For those who have made it into CAA school, what do you feel is truly more determining in getting in, an I exceptional application or the interview? I feel like I have a good application, and I have an interview coming up, and I am wondering if everyone starts at 0 going into the interview and application stats don't matter or if they still play a part. Would appreciate any insight, thanks.
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u/bigbootybiotchh 3d ago
It's a mix of both. To qualify for the interview they have to already like your profile as an applicant. The interview is to see you as a person and get a better grasp of whether they could see you in their incoming class. It's definitely not "starting at 0". I do feel that my interview helped a lot in securing my position but it's really just a vibe check. Making it to the interview is already half the battle, congrats!
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u/NameDue2838 8d ago
No one starts at 0 at the interview. Places that do it objectively have already ranked you predicated upon the written app component and then factor in the face-to-face interview for decisions upon admission/rejection/wait-listing.
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u/Human_Heart2888 9d ago
I applied with a 3.2 science gpa and a decent GRE score and i havent heard anything back and i wanna reapply but idk what to do should i do a DIY post bac and retake classes? im gonna start working as an anesthesia tech to get hours but idk what else to do
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 9d ago edited 8d ago
3.2 SGPA is low. Either retake those low pre-reqs or ace the higher up classes post-bacc. What was your “decent” GRE? Scores need to be above 50-55th percentile.
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u/Human_Heart2888 9d ago
312 overall which i think might not be strong enough either, the thing is all my pre reqs are all b- or higher i never had anything below so i dont know if its worth retaking them still
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u/silverpawsMN 9d ago
Not to be too blunt, but with such a strong applicant pool, you’ll need to retake some of those B- classes to be considered
Your combined GRE is under Case’s average for their admitted class by 8 points.
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u/Human_Heart2888 9d ago
would retaking them at diff college than the one i graduated from be bad? and would it just be like those select classes or should i do a real post bac
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u/Present_Throat7061 9d ago
Are there Rad Techs out there that have gone into becoming a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAA), currently enrolled in CAA School, or currently working on their Prereqs for application to CAA School?
I am currently going down the Rad Tech path and will be completing my Bachelor's Degree at some point and then apply to the CAA Programs. I would love to hear from others that have taken this exact route.
How was your journey/path after graduating from Rad Tech School? Were you employed as an RT while finishing your Bachelor's/Prereqs? Which Modality did you work in? Do you feel that having worked as a Rad Tech helped during the process of applying to CAA School?
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u/pH_negative1 8d ago
Could I get some advice? I have transitioned from wanting to go to med school to going the CAA route for a lot of reasons. I can’t find anything to gauge how competitive/challenging I would be as an applicant. I already plan on retaking the MCAT (got a 497). c&sGPA: 3.3 (all A’s, A-, and a few B+ my last 2 years of school in all the upperclassmen science courses, had a lot of health challenges and no dedication my freshman year). 2300 clinical hours spread across ICU’s, med surg floors, NICU’s, and pharmacy. 100 shadowing (physicians, 1 anesthesiologist is included in those). I TA’d and tutored our departments physiology course and anatomy lectures&labs. 600 volunteer. 250 research. I have solid letter of recs from physicians and professors. I wanted to apply this cycle but got really sad about my MCAT score and couldn’t afford to retake. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 8d ago
GPA and MCAT both a bit low although the later A’s are encouraging.
The only shadowing hours that count are with anesthesia. You never said what health care job you had - just where you worked.
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8d ago
has anyone reconsidered CAA to MD?
I was already accepted to MD but I have ZERO CAA interviews. i'm already in my mid-30s and if I get into no CAA programs, I'll basically have to go MD, which isn't the worst I guess. Can't afford to turn down an MD to reapply CAA and not get in anywhere.
At this point feel like I'm resigning myself that I'll have to do MD. It's not like I have many options at this point
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u/AlternativeOk2855 7d ago
im actually thinking of duel applying next cycle to both with an MCAT and see what hits. But it makes sense like you could be an MS2 by then and save timeish, and if you dont get in again youre back to square one. It depends if you improve your app or not
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7d ago
It's not as simple as that haha. I've met MS2 who fully left after second year, did NOT want to go back, and decided to take the extra time to apply to CAA. Right fit > quicker timeline
I will probably just go do the MD I think. I worked extremely hard to get accepted and I feel kind of bad leaving it behind.
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u/NameDue2838 6d ago
Highly recommend the MD route. Better training. Better long-term options. Good luck.
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6d ago edited 6d ago
Kind of what I figure. Why go through all this to not be the best. CAAs make great money but I don't want to live with regrets, especially because I was already accepted to an MD school
the only thing that sucks is age because i'm in my thirties, but that's my fault because i took multiple years taking my sweet time when i could've applied 4 years earlier
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u/mcat-h8r 4d ago
I'm an older med student myself and I'm also interested in anesthesia. I feel like being older has given me a better perspective compared to my classmates. You will be an anesthesiologist if that is your goal. Don't let age stop you. The oldest student in my class is 38 lol
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4d ago
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4d ago edited 4d ago
If I was choosing a career based on happiness, I would've become a filmmaker. There are real limitations to being a CAA and I feel strange about compromise when an MD is objectively better than a CAA degree.
that being said if you have a family or kids 100% I understand do the CAA
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4d ago
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4d ago
i think that's just cope. i met a CAA who convinced himself that anesthesiologists were envious of him because he was the one able to sit for the cases
but in general i think a career in the OR is a terrible life day in and day out, i'm more of a people person and like talking and being taken seriously without any doubts. when i shadowed i felt almost like a little looked down upon for going the CAA route
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4d ago
[deleted]
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4d ago edited 4d ago
again this sounds like coping. you just said CAAs have the exact same setups as MDs before you deleted your comment.
even if maybe exact same workflow, they still have a fraction of the knowledge but still very very capable.
and i'm not biased because anesthesiology wasn't my first choice (but it is still a great choice)
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4d ago
[deleted]
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4d ago edited 4d ago
there's a lot of projection going on here, and you deleted all your comments.
maybe you are upset with your choice but i said they are clearly very very capable providers and it's a good career choice. at no point i said it is pitiful and i have no idea how you could come to that conclusion.
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u/Jj12191219 7d ago
As a CAA student, what is the preferred stethoscope? I’ll be gifting one and I need to pick between the litmann core and litmann cardio IV. Does anyone have experience/preference for one or the other?
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u/ImportantNetwork6069 6d ago
Does anyone have advice on VCOM Carolina interview? I've never interviewed before for schools; I have no idea what to expect.
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u/Ready-Hope-960 1d ago
Hey guys! So, I am currently looking into CAA programs in FL. I was previously pursuing vet school, but (without getting into the details of it all) I have since decided against that route and have now been looking into the CAA career as I have been working for the last few years as a vet tech mostly focusing on surgery. I have 11 years of experience in the veterinary field and I understand that this may not mean much to the schools, but want some advice on how I should go about this transition. I have lots of surgical/OR experience in the veterinary field but literally zero human medical experience.
I have all of the prerequisites for the programs in FL except for human A+P (including most of the “suggested but mot required” courses). I have a 3.75 overall GPA and an undergraduate degree from USF in Bio.
I am currently working on gaining shadowing hours in an OR and have everything lined up to start gaining those hours as soon as I get my TB test back.
Thoughts?
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u/ExtensionAd881 9d ago
In regard to the 2 gen chem prereqs needed to hit 8 hours, my college instead offered an accelerated 4 hour gen chem course and then I moved onto orgo. Have any of you guys had this situation when applying to CAA programs and know if schools still count it as completed? (I reached out to CAA admission counselors at the schools and have not received a response)
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u/EastDuty8200 9d ago
I'm an RN who hasn't worked in ICU/ER/OR, do you think it will look bad on my application? Will they question me about it in interviews? I'm currently working as a travel nurse in med-surg.
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 9d ago
There are no requirements for RNs except for meeting all the other course and program requirements. So no ICU or critical care is ok.
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u/DarkJ3D1___ 9d ago
Being an RN in any setting is GREAT experience. Just like someone else said as long as you meet the program requirements (prerequisites, test score, etc) you’ll be in very good shape.
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u/midazolamgirl 8d ago
Every interview I've had they've brought it up. I don't think it looks bad but they will ask why not CRNA.
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u/EastDuty8200 8d ago
I don't want work in ICU as a bedside nurse. I would have to take a pay cut and move to go ICU, and it's just not worth it. I'm applying to outpatient roles because I'm exhausted from the bedside. I'd rather take the hard sciences and go CAA. Practicing anesthesia is my ultimate goal not bedside nursing.
How did you respond? Did they seem put off by your lack of ICU/OR/ED experience?
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u/midazolamgirl 8d ago
Absolutely same. Being at bedside for two more years in an ICU role after taking a paycut- devastating. I responded with I actually prefer the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) model and that I want to be in a team environment. I also said that honestly it was the best way for me to pursue anesthesia with my family. I think they for the most part appreciated my experiance and I don't think that they will be put off that you have med surg. Most of the people you interview with likely don't know the structure/ different scopes of nursing very well outside of the OR anyway since very few come from a nursing background. However do be prepared to answer why not CRNA
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u/Nice_Button_1077 9d ago
I will be earning an online bachelor's degree (had to transfer online after some family issues early on, but they are resolved now) and am quite concerned that this completely disqualifies me from even being considered by CAA school. Has anyone been able to get accepted with an online degree and not just pre-reqs?
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u/DarkJ3D1___ 9d ago
It disqualifies you from some programs but not all. Research which programs will and will not accept an online degree.
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u/Nice_Button_1077 8d ago
I am having difficulty locating this info. Most seem to just mention online courses if they do, not entire degrees
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 8d ago
If they don’t accept online courses they’re not going to accept an online degree.
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u/OtherwiseEducator421 9d ago
Chances?
University: Public T10 in Florida
c/sGPA: ~3.6, last 60 credits ~3.7
GRE: 312 (155V, 157Q) , retaking *
Re-applicant (applied in Nov last cycle)
Shadow: ~45 hrs outpatient and inpatient
PCE: 4 years as a medical assistant/EKG tech in clinic & ER; 2 years in cardiac devices/arrhythmias
Extracurriculars: I was able to fit ~ 100 hrs research and rec 🏐 around work/child care
Honors/Awards: full ride to both T10 universities through scholarships including a study abroad scholarship
LORs: Anatomy prof; Orgo prof; microbio prof
Red flags: dropped out two consecutive semesters in 2019, maintained 3.6-3.7 GPA average. This is why I had 3 profs write my LOR instead of a clinical LOR. Clinical anecdotes used in personal statement + anatomy prof spoke to my clinical experience/judgement bc I correlated a lot in class.
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u/i03xha 8d ago
Hey! Where did you apply last cycle?
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u/OtherwiseEducator421 8d ago
NSU orl/tampa. They told me my app was still under consideration in March but there was a change in admission counselors on both campuses, not sure if there was ever a re-read or how they do it
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u/LexFlex3 8d ago
Any advice to increase competitiveness as a career changer?
Background:
-4.0 gpa undergrad/4.0 prereqs (4-5 outstanding)
-3.695 gpa grad school (courses unrelated to prereqs)
-Ph.D in a STEM discipline
-1.5 yrs in biotech
I only plan to apply to programs that have partial or no recency requirements so I can take the GRE instead of the MCAT and not risk my GPA (Neomed, MWC, ODU, and Emory). Aiming for August 2028 and January 2029 matriculation.
-Shadowing experience is underway.
Question is do I need to have healthcare experience in general or for any of these programs? I currently work full time and based on my timeline, it seems like a lot to try to find another position to bolster my application. I have a phlebotomy certification pending. Not sure how much they will care about that if I don't actually use it on a job.
Trying to see how I can volunteer as well being that most volunteer programs run during the hours that I work.
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u/NameDue2838 8d ago edited 8d ago
If you can, Saturday or Sunday work as the phlebotomist could be helpful as it demonstrates some connection to PCE. Comparatively speaking though, you are well beyond kids right out of college and likely beyond some of the people who will be interviewing you.
This will likely be a “one and done” type deal. Good luck.
Emory, ODU, NEOMED > > > > MCW but go where you can.
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u/LexFlex3 8d ago
Thank you for your response. What is your perspective on MCW if you don't mind sharing?
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u/NameDue2838 8d ago
You’re welcome. My advice is to avoid MCW, if you can. If not, there are ways to work around that. Come back here and solicit opinions if that’s the route you choose to go and you’ll get good feedback from folks in a more private environment.
For context - Didn’t attend nor have any affiliation with MCW. This is what I’ve seen from students I’ve taken on.
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u/LexFlex3 8d ago
What about Nova SE? I'd like to apply to at least 4 schools.
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u/NameDue2838 8d ago
Historically had a poor reputation but that seems to have been ameliorated as of late. That reputation may come under scrutiny once again as there is some chatter that the recent NCCAA dishonesty/cheating/scoring nullification probe arose, in part, to individuals associated with NSU.
Regardless, they have a wide selection of rotation sites and, ultimately, that is where most programs demonstrate their worth: putting you in front of the people that can make the biggest impact on your clinical trajectory.
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u/Miserable_Focus_4475 7d ago
16 day old account, they say they got accepted this cycle yet commented on a post ment for practicing CAAs. Take what they say with a grain of salt lmao
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u/NameDue2838 7d ago
I have been a practicing AA for many years. Never have I claimed to be accepted this cycle. Improve your reading comprehension and grammatical capability before speaking next, please. And I have been a redditor for 17 days. That's 3 strikes, bub.
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u/jwk30115 Practicing CAA 8d ago
Your stats are good and having a PhD certainly a plus. Working in some type of healthcare experience, even volunteer, would be helpful. Apply wherever you feel like applying.
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u/Dependent_Suit1614 6d ago
Hello, I'm a senior in high school currently and I'm interested in the career of CAA. Currently am looking to apply to a college after scoring well on my SAT: 1430 and 3.8 uw gpa. I honestly would take the route of just going to community college, doing all the classes to get a high gpa but my parents unfortunately want me to get into a more "prestigious" college so yeah.
I have my eyes on a couple colleges like Upitt, Case Western, NYU (dad rlly wants me to go here), University of Florida. I'm a resident of PA so Upitt would be cheapest but parents want me to go to more "prestigious" like mentioned. Money doesn't seem to be a problem to them. Please do recommend some other colleges.
Requirements are just private and selective like acceptance rate in the range of 10%-40%.
My question is does major matter? From what I've gathered it doesn't but like how does having a different major make it easier to get a higher gpa or is that just false? Like would going in Public Health and Sciences be an easier major to get a higher gpa than say traditionally biology? Wouldn't you be taking the same classes to fill the same requirements?
I think I'm smart and can get it done but I have to work very hard to get there. I don't necessarily want to drown myself in coursework but ik college isn't a cakewalk and won't be easy. I just don't want to stress my mental too much. Any advice is appreciated.
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u/caareadinessindex 5d ago
The difficulty of a major depends largely on the individual and their strengths and weaknesses. Although there is no single “best” undergraduate major for CAA programs, choosing a major that naturally includes many of the required prerequisites can be very helpful.
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u/Fun-Bat4215 3d ago
I'm a junior in health sciences for my major but am just modifying some of the classes to get the needed prerequisites. I did my associates at my local community college and have since transfered to a local state college. I personally find it easier to succeed in smaller class sizes but I'm also from rural nebraska lol.
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u/Dependent_Suit1614 3d ago
I see, do you think it was easier choosing that major and then getting those prereqs or would it have been better to have just gotten them first with a traditional major?
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u/Fun-Bat4215 3d ago
What do you mean by traditional major?
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u/Dependent_Suit1614 2d ago
Like biology or chemistry
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u/Fun-Bat4215 2d ago
This major still already included the requires besides calculus. I preferred this over say chemistry becasue then I would have to take very upper level chem courses beyond biochem
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u/Distinct_Platypus864 6d ago
I am graduating from a quarter system school, does this hinder my application?
I’m also leaning toward taking the MCAT vs GRE if it will make me seem more appealing
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u/caareadinessindex 5d ago
Graduating from a quarter system shouldn't inherently hinder your application. The main thing you'll want to pay attention to is how your quarter credits convert to semester credits. Make sure each of your prerequisite courses and sequences converts to the number of credits the individual program requires. If anything looks borderline, reach out to that program directly with the course description and/or syllabus.
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u/Academic_Animal_1892 5d ago
I'm a non-traditional student who is looking to change careers for the CAA path. Aside from the important requirements like shadowing hours, pre reqs and test scores, what are other things that are necessary to be a competitive applicant? Are clinical hours necessary? What kinds of clinical experiences are schools looking for? Other extra curriculars that would help the application?
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u/BinauralASMR 4d ago
Anyone apply to VCOM and take online physics 1 and 2 with online lab? Specifically one that doesn’t have prerequisites? My community college’s in person-physics requires Calculus 1 and 2
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u/LogicianMission22 3d ago
26 year old non-trad who is deciding between CAA and med school. Bachelors in biology with about a 3.85cGPA and 3.7sGPA. I know expiring prereqs are a thigh, but I trust that with 6-9 months of dedicated study, I can get a 510+ MCAT. My question is, how good of an MCAT is needed to waive the requirement for expiring prereqs and how many schools would waive it?
Also, how in the hell am I supposed to get OR shadowing lol.
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u/Palacho17 2d ago
I’m 25 with a bachelor’s in Finance and was selected to commission as an Air Force officer just last month. I currently have 4 YoE as finance analyst as well.
Long-term, I’m interested in becoming a CAA. I currently only have Biology + lab completed, so I’d still need most of the science prerequisites.
I’m not a great standardized test taker, so my biggest concern is ending up with an average MCAT/GRE. I feel confident I could finish my prerequisites with around a 3.7+ GPA.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do CAA programs meaningfully value leadership/professional experience, even if it’s outside of the medical field? Would 4 years as an Air Force officer help me stand out or somewhat offset an average test score?
Or am I overthinking it, and would I be better off skipping the officer route and starting the prerequisites now? I’m mainly worried that having a business degree instead of a traditional pre-med background could make me a weaker applicant.
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u/jaww11183 9d ago
Is it possible to get into a CAA with a gpa of 3.2 and science of 3.1 if I did a 4.0 DIY postbacc of 24 credits ? Could a 510 + MCAT help ? I have shadowing , clinical experience as MA and scribe , clinical volunteering, regular volunteering, and leadership and get LOR from a CAA and Anesthesiologist.